Tel Arad, about 18 miles from Beersheba in the
Negev, was a Canaanite city, and on the higher end of the horseshoe shaped
hill there was an Iron Age Israelite fortress. The Bronze Age Canaanite city
is one of the most thoroughly excavated in Israel.

The Israelite citadel served
to protect this strategic location in the Eastern Negev. As well
as storerooms and houses, a temple was discovered. Its pattern
and equipment match closely biblical descriptions of Solomon's
temple.

The Arad citadel has also revealed interesting ostraca, known as the "Arad
Letters".

This page is part of the Hypertext Bible Commentary - Amos,&COPY; Tim Bulkeley, 1996-2005, Tim
Bulkeley. All rights reserved.